New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-24
PISS THE TEDDER BILL.


The adjournment of the Legislature next
Thursday being agreed upon. little time re
mains for legislation, but whatever else fails
of enactment, the Yedder bill must be passed.
OF the Republican members who were absent
when the third reading was voted, the major
ity are now in their seats. and it is to be hoped
that every one Of them will be found on the
right side when the final vote is taken on the
measure. Every Republican member is in
terested in securing a full party vote on this
occasion. The Democrats have put Themselves
on record as opposed TO. any legislation which
will diminish the receipts of the rumseler or
secure to the State some compensation for the
abnormal expense entailed by the drink evil.
These partisans with Governor Hill at their
head, stand fully committed to the propo-
Sition that tho saloon is an institution the
sanctty Of which must not be profaned by
an unholy touch, and that no matter to what
extent taxes arc increased by the necessity Of
providing for the crime, pauperism, insanity
and physical disease produced by the saloon.
the latter must not be expected 10 contribute
anything to the abatement of the ills it ere
ates. That is the Democratic position to-day,
but if the Veddcr bill fails through the rccre-
ancy OF the Republican members the RESPONSE
blity for the defeat Of al temperance and
fiscal reform legislation will no longer be
wholly at the Democratic door Republicans
are looking especially TO the old and tried
parliamentary leaders in the Assembly to see
that the measure is brought to a vote at once.
Judge Noah Davis, than whom no higher or
soander authority can be cited. has affirmed
his opinion that The Vedder bill is wise,
constitutional and bencfcent law and that it
is in the best interests Of the State InaSnuch
as it puts large proportion Of the tax burden
created by drink upon those who are account
able for the existence of that burden. its
equity and prOpIiety are obvious. 1nasmuch
as it operates incidentally as a restrictive
measure, teuding to diminish the number of
saloons and to wipe ont the most dangerous
class altogether it is in the interest Of tenn
perance and practically high license law.
It's classification, following that which has
been applied in many other States. is so ar
ranged as to produce the nearest attainabe
approach to uniform taxation. 1t makes the
largest business pay the largest tax, and that
is just and fair. 1t takes population as Is
basis for classification. and that is a sound
principle There is nothing arbitrary or I'M.
certain in its incidence, rs in the liquor laws
of those States which impose fixed State
license tax and cap it with a discretionary
local license tax Under the latter the village
saloon may be made to pay twice as much as
the city barroom. The Vedder bill graduates
the impost much more evenly The moro this
bill is examined the stronger does it appear, in
fact, and there can he no reason for tho re-
fusal of any Republican member TO vote for
il
Governor Hill no doubt would laugh in his
sleeve if the Republicans in the Assembly com
mitted the incredible blunder Of relieving him
and his supporters in the Legislature from re
| spcnsiblity in the case Nothing would
please him so well as just this outcome, but
the Republicans can certainly not afford to
play into tho Governors hands, nor in the
circumstances can any Of them afford to en-
counter tho opprobsium which awaits the OPP
ponents Of the Veddcr bill. The Governor
sees plainly enough that he cannot veto this
tax relief measure without hurting his political
standing and prospects. That is why he Is
so anxious to prevent the Vedder bill from
reaching him. But the Democrats in the As
scmbly cannot do his bidding In the matter.
1t Is only by Republican votes that he con be
delivered from the strait he Is in, and no Re
publican vote con be cast to help him without
double treason: 10 the party and to the State.
We trust that there u no danger Of such recre-
ancy. but there Is assurcdly no time to be
lost, and the passage Of the Vedder bill ought
to be regarded and worked for as the most i'm
portant business now remaining to be done.